Mad for Mobile: Half of CIOs Say Their Firms Have or Will Offer a Mobile Application In Coming Year

MENLO PARK, Calif., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- "There's an app for that," may apply to nearly half of U.S. businesses before the year is over, a new survey by Robert Half Technology shows. Twenty-seven percent of CIOs polled recently said their companies already offer a mobile application, while another 22 percent said they plan to offer one in 2012.

The survey was developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of information technology (IT) professionals on a project and full-time basis. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with more than 1,400 CIOs from companies across the United States with 100 or more employees.

CIOs were asked, "Has your company developed a mobile application for customers and clients, or do you plan to offer one in the next 12 months?" Their responses:

You have one now

27%

You don't have one now but plan to offer one in the next 12 months

22%

You don't have one and don't plan to offer one in the next 12 months

43%

Other/don't know

9%

Total

100%

As mobile applications become more prevalent, there is no shortage of issues for the IT teams tasked with developing them. In the same survey, CIOs said the two greatest challenges for IT teams developing these applications are collaborating across departments and finding IT professionals with the skills to build them.

CIOs were asked, "What is the greatest challenge for IT teams when developing a mobile application for the business?" Their responses:

Collaborating across departments

29%

Finding and hiring IT professionals with the necessary expertise

28%

Keeping the application up to date

19%

Gaining approvals from the application store or market

16 %

Other/don't know

8%

"Building mobile applications requires intense collaboration between numerous groups within the organization, including marketing, IT, operations and sales," said John Reed, executive director of Robert Half Technology. It's important for mobile application developers to have strong soft skills, in addition to the ability to write code and test and debug software applications."

As more companies look to develop mobile apps, the demand for IT professionals who specialize in this area has increased, according to the Robert Half Technology 2012 Salary Guide, which shows starting salaries for mobile applications developers are expected to increase 9.1 percent next year -- one of the largest increases of any IT position researched.

Added Reed: "Because the demand for professionals with a track record of building successful mobile apps currently outpaces the supply, companies are willing to pay a premium for professionals with these skills."

With more than 100 locations worldwide, Robert Half Technology is a leading provider of technology professionals for initiatives ranging from web development and multiplatform systems to network security and technical support. Robert Half Technology offers online job search services at www.rht.com. Follow Robert Half Technology on Twitter at twitter.com/RobertHalfTech.